So, you’ve decided to cosplay the Eleventh Doctor? Fantastic choice! When it comes to costumes, Matt Smith’s Doctor offers incredible variety, making him one of the most visually diverse incarnations of the Time Lord. However, this abundance of options presents a new challenge: which 11th Doctor Costume will you choose to recreate? From his very first appearance in “The Eleventh Hour” to the epic “Day of the Doctor” 50th Anniversary special, the Eleventh Doctor sported a plethora of distinct outfits.
To assist you in your cosplay journey, this guide will meticulously detail each of the Eleventh Doctor’s signature looks, starting from the very beginning of his era.
Series 5: The Dawn of the Raggedy Doctor
The “Raggedy Doctor” Look
As seen in “The Eleventh Hour”
If you’re already a seasoned Tenth Doctor cosplayer, the “Raggedy Doctor” look will be surprisingly easy to assemble. This is essentially the Tenth Doctor’s attire gone through a regeneration mishap! To achieve this iconic, just-regenerated appearance, you’ll need to take a light blue shirt and distress it by ripping it in several places. Roll up the sleeves for a more disheveled look, and pair it with brown suit trousers and white or cream Converse sneakers. The crucial element to bridge the gap between Doctors is the tie. Opt for a swirly tie, reminiscent of the one worn by the Tenth Doctor in episodes like “Girl in the Fireplace,” “Love and Monsters,” “Blink,” and “The End of Time Part 2.”
The swirly tie might be the most specific item to source for this 11th doctor costume. However, specialized online retailers offer screen-accurate replicas. For instance, Magnoli Clothiers provides a high-quality version.
While screen accuracy is often desired, cosplaying on a budget is a common reality. For a more affordable option, consider a black variant of the swirly tie. While not perfectly screen-accurate, it captures the essence of the look and offers a cost-effective alternative.
Donegal Tweed – Burgundy Jacket
As seen in “The Eleventh Hour”, “The Beast Below”, “Flesh and Stone”, “Amy’s Choice”, “The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood”, “The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang”
Now we delve into the quintessential Eleventh Doctor aesthetic. Ironically, this signature style is also one of the most challenging to perfectly replicate. A key detail often overlooked by cosplayers is that the Doctor actually had two distinct Donegal Tweed jackets in Series 5. We’ll begin with the burgundy variant, the more frequently worn jacket throughout Series 5, appearing in a significant 11 episodes.
The Shirt: Replicating the exact shirt is notoriously difficult. The original Paul Smith shirt is no longer readily available for purchase, especially not at an affordable price. For a practical cosplay solution, a red or burgundy striped shirt will effectively capture the visual essence. However, for those dedicated to screen-perfect accuracy and with a generous budget, specialized retailers might offer replicas of the original Paul Smith shirt, albeit at a premium price.
Bow-tie: A red or burgundy bow-tie is essential. These are widely accessible from most clothing stores with a tie section, as well as online marketplaces like eBay.
Braces: Burgundy braces are the natural complement to the bow-tie. Similar to bow-ties, burgundy braces should be easily found at clothing stores or online.
Trousers: During his initial series, the Eleventh Doctor sported skinny black Topman jeans. For cosplay purposes, black chinos can achieve a very similar and equally stylish effect.
Shoes: Any pair of black boots will work well. The Eleventh Doctor wore All Saints Layer boots in Series 5, but these can be expensive and difficult to find. More readily available black boots will suffice for completing the look.
This burgundy Donegal tweed ensemble forms the cornerstone of the Eleventh Doctor’s early style. Let’s explore his other Series 5 jacket variations.
Donegal Tweed – Blue Jacket
As seen in “Vampires in Venice”, “Amy’s Choice”, “Vincent and the Doctor”, “The Lodger”
Shirt: As with the burgundy jacket look, sourcing the precise Paul Smith shirt remains a challenge. Unless ordering from specialized replica sources, a blue striped shirt serves as a highly effective and practical alternative for your 11th doctor costume.
Bow-Tie: For the blue Donegal tweed jacket, a navy blue bow-tie is the perfect match.
Braces: Continuing the color coordination, navy blue braces are the appropriate choice.
Trousers: Consistent with his Series 5 style, black skinny Topman jeans were worn. Black chinos provide a comparable and more accessible option for cosplayers.
Shoes: Black boots remain the footwear of choice, and again, screen-accurate All Saints Layer boots are not essential for a successful cosplay.
Harris Tweed “Publicity Jacket”
As seen in “Victory of the Daleks”, “The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone”
This Harris Tweed jacket holds a unique place in the Eleventh Doctor’s wardrobe, often referred to as the “publicity jacket.” Images of Matt Smith wearing this jacket were prominently featured in the promotional campaigns leading up to his debut in 2010. Interestingly, this jacket had a relatively short on-screen run, appearing in only three episodes before being taken by the Weeping Angels in “The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone.” Its initial appearance was due to the Doctor’s burgundy jacket being soiled in “The Beast Below.”
Matt Smith in the Harris Tweed Jacket, widely used for publicity and featuring a lighter, earthier tone for the Eleventh Doctor's outfit.
The remaining elements of this 11th doctor costume are largely consistent with the Donegal Tweed looks. The key distinguishing feature is the Harris Tweed jacket itself. Despite its brief screen time, this jacket might be easier to find in charity shops or thrift stores due to its more common tweed pattern.
And there you have it! A comprehensive breakdown of the Eleventh Doctor’s Series 5 looks. While sourcing exact replicas of the tweed jackets can be difficult, similar alternatives are widely available. High street retailers often offer excellent tweed jackets that capture the essence of the Doctor’s style.
Stay tuned for the next installment, which will cover the Eleventh Doctor’s costumes from Series 6 and 7A!
